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Exhibition

Emperors, Artists & Inventors: Transformative Gifts of Fine Arms and Armor

December 21, 2020–February 21, 2022

Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 380

Exhibitions are free with Museum admission.

All exhibitions

Overview Exhibition Objects

Helmet (<i>Spangenhelm</i>), Iron, copper alloy, gold, Byzantine — Helmet (Spangenhelm)
Byzantine
6th century

Combination Sword and Wheellock Pistol, Steel, iron, copper alloy, gold, silver, French, probably Paris — Combination Sword and Wheellock Pistol
French, probably Paris
ca. 1550–55

Half-Shaffron for an Armor of King Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) or his Brother Don Carlos (1607–1632), Pierre du Coudroy French, Steel, copper alloy, silver, gold, Flemish, Brussels — Half-Shaffron for an Armor of King Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) or his Brother Don Carlos (1607–1632)
Attributed to Pierre du Coudroy (French, 1560–ca. 1626)
Attributed to François Le Gras (Flemish, active ca. 1600–40)
1624–26

Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories, Samuel Colt American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, wood (walnut), textile, glass, cork, bone, pewter, paper, American, Hartford, Connecticut — Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories
Samuel Colt (American, Hartford, Connecticut 1814–1862)
Cylinder ornament designed by Waterman Lilly Ormsby (American, Hampton, Connecticut 1809–1883 Brooklyn, New York)
ca. 1853

Lamellar Shoulder Defenses, Iron, leather, textile, Tibetan — Lamellar Shoulder Defenses
Tibetan
14th–16th century

War Mask, Iron, gold, copper alloy, Tibetan — War Mask
Tibetan
14th–16th century

Two-Handed Sword, Steel, latten or copper alloy, British or Western European — Two-Handed Sword
British or Western European
ca. 1400–1450

Close Helmet and Cavalry Armor, Steel, leather, German, possibly Lower Saxony — Close Helmet and Cavalry Armor
German, possibly Lower Saxony
helmet, ca. 1530; armor, ca. 1540–50 and later

Priming Flask Bearing the Monograms and Arms of the Prince-Elector August I of Saxony (reigned 1553–86) and Anna of Denmark (reigned 1553–85), Master Thomas der Schwertfeger (possibly Thomas Rucker) German, Iron, gold, silver, silk, German, probably Saxony — Priming Flask Bearing the Monograms and Arms of the Prince-Elector August I of Saxony (reigned 1553–86) and Anna of Denmark (reigned 1553–85)
Master Thomas der Schwertfeger (possibly Thomas Rucker) (German, active Augsburg, Vienna, and Dreseden, 1535–1606)
ca. 1575

Rapier, Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, wood, German, Dresden — Rapier
German, Dresden
ca. 1575–1600

Wheellock Pistol, Steel, wood, staghorn, mother-of-pearl, gold, French — Wheellock Pistol
French
ca. 1580–1600

Wheellock Puffer Pistols, Balthasar Dressler German, Steel, wood (walnut), antler, German, Dresden — Wheellock Puffer Pistols
Balthasar Dressler (German, Dresden, active 1573–1615)
Master HR (German, active ca. 1585)
ca. 1585

Saber and Scabbard, Steel, gold, silver, turquoise, leather, wood, Sino-Tibetan — Saber and Scabbard
Sino-Tibetan
17th–18th century

Wheellock Pistol, Pierre Cisteron French, Steel, iron, silver, gold, wood (fruitwood, ebony), bone, French, Figeac — Wheellock Pistol
Pierre Cisteron (French, ca. 1589–1684)
ca. 1630–40

Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols Made for Louis XIV of France (r. 1643–1715), Pierre Cisteron French, Steel, fruitwood, gold, silver, French, Figeac — Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols Made for Louis XIV of France (r. 1643–1715)
Pierre Cisteron (French, ca. 1589–1684)
ca. 1650

Wheellock Sporting Rifle, Martin Kammerer German, Steel, wood, iron, silver, tortoiseshell, German, Augsburg — Wheellock Sporting Rifle
Martin Kammerer (German, Augsburg, active 1654–67)
dated 1658

Combination Flintlock Pistol and Concealed Dagger, Matteo Cecchi, called Acquafresca Italian, Steel, silver, wood (walnut), Italian, Bargi — Combination Flintlock Pistol and Concealed Dagger
Probably by Matteo Cecchi, called Acquafresca (Italian, Bargi, 1651–1738)
ca. 1690

Repeating Flintlock Pistol, Michele Lorenzoni Italian, Steel, wood, silver, Italian, Florence — Repeating Flintlock Pistol
Michele Lorenzoni (Italian, active in Florence, died 1733)
ca. 1690–1700

Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols with the Arms of Liechtenstein, Georg Keiser Austrian, Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, Austrian, Vienna — Pair of Flintlock Holster Pistols with the Arms of Liechtenstein
Georg Keiser (Austrian, Eger 1647–ca. 1740 Vienna)
ca. 1720

Powder Flask, Wood, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, gold, Italian, Naples — Powder Flask
Italian, Naples
ca. 1740–50

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763), Adrien Reynier the Younger, called Le Hollandois French, Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, French, Paris — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763)
Adrien Reynier the Younger, called Le Hollandois (French, Paris ca. 1680–1743 Paris)
or Charles Reynier, called Le Hollandois (French, Paris, ca. 1700–1752 Paris)
ca. 1740

Pair of Flintlock Pistols, Henry Hadley British, Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, copper alloy, British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols
Henry Hadley (British, London, active 1734, d. 1773)
ca. 1765

Saber of Archduke Carl Joseph of Austria (1745–1761) as a Boy, Steel, gold, bloodstone, Austrian, probably Vienna — Saber of Archduke Carl Joseph of Austria (1745–1761) as a Boy
Austrian, probably Vienna
dated 1751

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Scottish Type Presented to Jeffrey, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797), John Murdoch Scottish, Steel, copper alloy, gold, enamel, agate, British, Doune (Scotland) and probably London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Scottish Type Presented to Jeffrey, 1st Baron Amherst (1717–1797)
John Murdoch (Scottish, Doune, Perthshire, active 1750–died 1812)
ca. 1780

Pair of Flintlock Revolvers, Tula Arms Factory Russian, Steel, wood (walnut), copper alloy, gold, silver, horn, Russian, Tula — Pair of Flintlock Revolvers
Tula Arms Factory (Russian, Tula, 1712–Present)
ca. 1790

Smallsword with Scabbard, Gold, steel, copper alloy, wood, vellum, felt, gemstone, hilt and scabbard, probably Spanish; blade, German, Solingen — Smallsword with Scabbard
hilt and scabbard, probably Spanish; blade, German, Solingen
ca. 1790–1800

Pair of Flintlock Pistols, Claude Martin, Steel, wood, silver, gold, Indian, Lucknow, and possibly British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols
Claude Martin (French, Lyon 1735–1800 Lucknow)
ca. 1786

Pair of Flintlock Pistols of the Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762–1830), with Case and Accessories, Durs Egg Swiss, Steel, wood (walnut, rosewood, mahogany), silver, gold, horn, copper alloy, leather, textile, British, London — Pair of Flintlock Pistols of the Prince of Wales, later George IV (1762–1830), with Case and Accessories
Durs Egg (British, born Switzerland, baptized Oberbuchsiten, Switzerland 1748–1831 London)
Michael Barnett (British, Workington, Cumberland 1758–1823 London)
hallmarked for 1787–88

Presentation Smallsword, Martin-Guillaume Biennais French, Steel, gold, lapis lazuli, wood, leather, French, Paris — Presentation Smallsword
Martin-Guillaume Biennais (French, 1764–1843, active ca. 1796–1819)
ca. 1814

Smallsword and Scabbard Presented to Captain Alexander Cochrane, James Morisset British, Steel, gold, enamel, wood, leather, British, London — Smallsword and Scabbard Presented to Captain Alexander Cochrane
James Morisset (British, London 1738–1815)
Gray & Constable (British, London, partnership established ca. 1794, dissolved 1799)
hallmarked for 1796–97

Smallsword with Scabbard and Case, Michael Barnett British, Steel, gold, silver, wood, vellum, leather, copper alloy, silk, felt, British, London — Smallsword with Scabbard and Case
Michael Barnett (British, Workington, Cumberland 1758–1823 London)
hallmarked for 1798–99

Set of Sixty-Two Engraving Tools of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904), Louis Daniel Nimschke American, Steel, wood, American and European — Set of Sixty-Two Engraving Tools of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904)
Louis Daniel Nimschke (American, born Ebersdorf, Reuss Schleiz, Germany July 14, 1832–April 9, 1904 Brooklyn, New York)
19th century

Cased Pair of Flintlock Pistols Presented to Captain Cayetano Valdés y Flores, Nicolas Noël Boutet French, Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, leather, textile, French, Versailles — Cased Pair of Flintlock Pistols Presented to Captain Cayetano Valdés y Flores
Nicolas Noël Boutet (French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833)
1801–02

Presentation Saber with Scabbard, Royal Arms Manufactory at Torre Annunziata Italian, Steel, copper alloy, wood, gold, mother-of-pearl, coral, Italian, Naples — Presentation Saber with Scabbard
Royal Arms Manufactory at Torre Annunziata (Italian, Naples, established 1757)
ca. 1806–10

Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham, John Ray and James Montague British, Steel, gold, enamel, leather, British, London — Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham
John Ray and James Montague (British, London, in partnership 1800–21)
R. Clarke & Son (British, London, partnership recorded 1797–1808)
hallmarked for 1802–03

Patriotic Fund Sword with Scabbard, of £100 Type Presented to Capt. Thomas Baker in 1805, Together with its Belt and One Extra Scabbard, Richard Teed British, Steel, gilt-brass, gold, ivory, textile, British, London — Patriotic Fund Sword with Scabbard, of £100 Type Presented to Capt. Thomas Baker in 1805, Together with its Belt and One Extra Scabbard
Richard Teed (British, London, 1757–1816)
dated 1805

Percussion Longrifle Converted to a Target Rifle, Jacob Kuntz American, Wood (maple), steel, brass, platinum, silver, horn, bone, stock and fittings, American, Philadelphia; lock, British, London; barrel, Scottish, Edinburgh — Percussion Longrifle Converted to a Target Rifle
Multiple artists/makers
stock and fittings, ca. 1830–40; lock, ca. 1830–40; barrel, 1862

Workbook Recording the Engraved Firearms Ornament of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904), Louis Daniel Nimschke American, Ink on paper, leather binding, American, New York — Workbook Recording the Engraved Firearms Ornament of Louis D. Nimschke (1832–1904)
Louis Daniel Nimschke (American, born Ebersdorf, Reuss Schleiz, Germany July 14, 1832–April 9, 1904 Brooklyn, New York)
ca. 1850–1900

Five Shot Double-Action Percussion Revolver with Shoulder Stock, Case, and Accessories, Steel, wood (oak), silver, gold, copper alloy, textile, lead, German — Five Shot Double-Action Percussion Revolver with Shoulder Stock, Case, and Accessories
German
ca. 1860

Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver (serial no. 63306), Samuel Colt American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, wood (walnut), American, Hartford, Connecticut — Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver (serial no. 63306)
Samuel Colt (American, Hartford, Connecticut 1814–1862)
cylinder ornament: Waterman Lilly Ormsby (American, Hampton, Connecticut 1809–1883 Brooklyn, New York)
ca. 1853

Naval Presentation Sword, Ames Manufacturing Company American, Steel, copper alloy, gold, walrus tusk, wood, American — Naval Presentation Sword
Ames Manufacturing Company (American, Chicopee, Massachusetts, 1829–1935)
John Quincy Adams Ward (American, Urbana, Ohio 1830–1910 New York)
ca. 1865

Smith & Wesson .44 Double-Action Frontier Model Revolver decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 8401), with Case and Cleaning Rod, Smith & Wesson American, Steel, silver, ivory, textile (chamois), wood (California laurel), American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York — Smith & Wesson .44 Double-Action Frontier Model Revolver decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 8401), with Case and Cleaning Rod
Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852)
Tiffany & Co. (American, established 1837)
ca. 1893

Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 120528), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, silver, wood (rosewood), American, New Haven, Connecticut, and New York — Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle decorated by Tiffany & Co. (serial no. 120528)
Winchester Repeating Arms Company (American, New Haven, Connecticut, founded 1866)
Tiffany & Co. (1837–present)
1899–1900

Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 125176), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, wood (walnut), American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1886 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 125176)
Winchester Repeating Arms Company (American, New Haven, Connecticut, founded 1866)
1901

Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 311946) with Box of Sights, Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, silver, wood (walnut), leather, textile, American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 311946) with Box of Sights
Winchester Repeating Arms Company (American, New Haven, Connecticut, founded 1866)
Signed by John Ulrich (American, New York or Hartford, Connecticut 1850–1924 Hartford, Connecticut)
1906

Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 81851), Winchester Repeating Arms Company American, Steel, gold, platinum, wood, American, New Haven, Connecticut — Winchester Model 1895 Takedown Rifle (serial no. 81851)
Winchester Repeating Arms Company (American, New Haven, Connecticut, founded 1866)
1913